Skip to main content


Appalachian Regional Commission

          
CLOSE
        Appalachian Region
              Data Overview of the Appalachian Region
                      Appalachian States
                      Appalachian Counties Served by ARC
                      County Economic Status and Distressed Areas in Appalachia
                      Tribal Communities in the Appalachian Region
                      Congressional Districts in Appalachia
                      Local Development Districts in Appalachia
      Investment Priorities
              Building Businesses
                      Workforce Ecosystems
                              Addressing Substance Use Disorder
                      Community Infrastructure
                              Transportation in Appalachia
                      Regional Culture and Tourism
                      Community Leaders and Capacity
                              READY Appalachia
                      Investments in Action
      Grants and Opportunities
              About ARC Grants
                              Match Requirements for ARC Grants
                      Funding Opportunities
                              Area Development Program
                                      ARISE InitiativeOpen
                                      INSPIRE Initiative
                                      POWER Initiative
                                      WORC Initiative
                      Capacity Building Opportunities
                              Academies and Institutes
                                      READY Appalachia
                      Additional Opportunities
                              Access to Capital Program
                                      Appalachian Regional Energy Hub InitiativeOpen
                                      J-1 Visa Waiver Program
                                      Local Access Road Program
                      Contract Opportunities
                      Applicant Resources
                      Grantee Resources
                      Approved ARC Projects
      Research and Data
              Research Reports
                      Evaluations
                      Maps
                      Data Report Tool
                      Fact Sheets and Infographics
      Academies and Institutes
              Appalachian Collegiate Research Initiative
                      Appalachian Entrepreneurship Academy
                      Appalachian Leadership Institute
                      Appalachian STEM Academy
      About ARC
              History and Work
                      Structure and Leadership
                              ARC Offices & Staff
                                      State Partners
                                      Local Development Districts
                                      Office of Inspector General
                      Budget, Performance, and Policy
                      Newsroom
                      Careers at ARC
                      Internships at ARC
      SearchSearch
    Search

              Events
      Newsroom
      Get ARC Updates
      Inspector GeneralFacebook
      Twitter
      Youtube
      LinkedIn You are here
    HomeNewsroomNewsAppalachian Regional Commission Issues Request for Proposals (RFP) for Economic Diversification Investments in Region’s Coal Impacted Economies

      	
	
Appalachian Regional Commission Issues Request for Proposals (RFP) for Economic Diversification Investments in Region’s Coal Impacted Economies
	
			January 14, 2021
                **Media Contact:**
											China RiddlePOWER InitiativePress Release
	
				
	
	
	Funding Available via ARC’s POWER Initiative

**WASHINGTON, D.C.,**January 14, 2021—Today, **Appalachian Regional Commission** (ARC) released a **Request for Proposals** for applications for the 2021 POWER (Partnerships for Opportunity and Workforce and Economic Revitalization) Initiative. **POWER** seeks to diversify economies in communities and regions affected by job losses in coal mining, coal power plant operations, and coal-related supply chain industries due to the changing economics of America’s energy production. ARC is making funds available through the POWER Initiative for regional investments to develop a competitive workforce, foster entrepreneurial activities, develop industry clusters, strengthen substance abuse response, and expand broadband in coal-impacted areas. Required Letters of Intent (due Friday, March 5 by 5:00 pm EST) should be submitted via this **fillable PDF form** to **power@arc.gov**, and full applications (due Friday, April 16 by 5:00 pm EST) should be submitted online at **power.arc.gov** beginning Tuesday, February 16.

“The POWER Initiative is a critical tool for communities with economies impacted by the changes in the coal market,” said **ARC Federal Co-Chairman Tim Thomas**. “I encourage eligible organizations and community leaders across the Appalachian Region to engage in ARC’s application workshops and apply for a POWER grant if they have a plan that can contribute to regional, transformative economic recovery and growth.”

Interested applicants can receive virtual, technical assistance through **Understanding POWER 2021: An Application Workshop** at 11:00am EST on Tuesday, February 2, 2021. This session will update interested applicants on the POWER 2021 RFP and provide tips for a well-rounded application. Shortly after this session, registrants will receive links to seven prerecorded training videos, and will then have the opportunity to ask questions of ARC staff during a live Question & Answer Session on Thursday, February 25 at 11:00 am EST.

Understanding POWER 2021 and the live Question & Answer Session are free to attend, although **registration** is required by 5:00pm EST on Friday, January 29, 2021.

The 2021 POWER Request for Proposals (RFP), workshop details, and other information about ARC’s POWER Initiative are available at **arc.gov/POWER**.

Since 2015, ARC has invested over $238 million in 293 projects touching 353 counties across Appalachia through the POWER Initiative. Together, these investments are projected to create or retain more than 26,000 jobs, leverage more than $1.1 billion in additional private investment into Appalachia’s economy, and prepare tens of thousands of workers and students for opportunities in entrepreneurship, broadband development, tourism, and other industry sectors. POWER investments also support workforce-to-recovery and other comprehensive strategies to strengthen the Region’s Recovery Ecosystem. A **recent evaluation report** of ARC’s POWER Initiative, conducted by the third party evaluator Chamberlin & Dunn, found that economic development projects funded via ARC’s POWER Initiative met or exceeded targets for jobs retained and or created, businesses created, and revenues increased.

**About the Appalachian Regional Commission**The Appalachian Regional Commission (**www.arc.gov**) is an economic development agency of the federal government and 13 state governments focusing on 420 counties across the Appalachian Region. ARC’s mission is to innovate, partner, and invest to build community capacity and strengthen economic growth in Appalachia to help the Region achieve socioeconomic parity with the nation. Appalachian Regional Commission

          About ARC Grants
      Grants and Opportunities
      Newsroom
      Contract Opportunities
      Contact ARC
      Careers

  Get ARC News and Updates
    
    
                
  Sign Up Here
    Web and Privacy Policy